Kent · England
Paella Catering in Dungate
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Dungate.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Dungate?
What paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- Parking and unloading
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and time of the event
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Paella catering in Dungate, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include office lunches and staff parties and weddings and evening receptions, with vegan paella, black rice and mixed paella.
Somewhere like Dungate, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
What else we do in Dungate
Who books paella catering in Dungate?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Dungate and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
For guests coming by train, Sittingbourne station is about 2.9 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Catering an event in Dungate
Dungate is about 3 miles south of Sittingbourne, in Kent. From the centre of Dungate to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 922 places across Kent. Our events stretch from Dungate to Canterbury (about 14 miles away).
Historic houses near Dungate include Belmont House and Gardens (4.6 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Cromers Wood? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Dungate is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across the ME9 postcode area. For events just outside Dungate, we cover Newbury (1 mile north-east), Kingsdown (1 mile east), Rodmersham Green (1 mile north), Highsted (1 mile north) and Bapchild (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles west), Ashford (12 miles south-east), Canterbury (14 miles east), Sittingbourne (3 miles north), Whitstable (13 miles east) and Faversham (6 miles east).
A little further out are Sittingbourne Heritage Museum (2.6 miles north) and Newnham Castle (2.5 miles south-east).
- Schools near Dungate include Fulston Manor School (2.3 miles north)
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Dungate
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Dungate hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Questions from Dungate
Can you cook at venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
How far is Dungate from London?
About 39 miles from central London, and well within our area.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
The process
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Evenings in Dungate stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Give us separate numbers for children
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff